Horseshoe.



'un'. 533,796. Patented sept. 2a, |399.

l A. H. BUSH.`

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(Application Bied lay 26, 1899.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT IEEICE.

ALBERT H. BUSH, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of LettersPatent No.633,796, dated September V26,v `1899.

Application led May 26, 1899.

for use for race-horses, although the samev may be also used for other horses.

My invention comprehends a novel form of shoe and pad in which the pad consists of'a light metallic body,such as al umini u rn,shaped to snugly fit the frog of the foot and to form a perfect bearing therefor and havesuflicient resiliency to avoid a too-great impact shock upon the foot during running and which will thoroughly protect the sole or frog of the 4foot when the animal is driven over stony or hard ground. f

My invention also comprehends a metallic plateadapted to fit the frog of the foot, having a cnshiony upper surface whereby to provide a soft bearing for tender feet and in which the metallic plate, together with its cushiony surface, can be readily detached from the hoof and used with a number of different shoes as they become worn'. Y

With these objects in View my invention consists in certain details of construction and novel combination of parts, such as will be first. described in detail and then specifically pointed outin the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure lis a viewillustrating my invention as applied to a horses hoof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken practically on the line 2 ofr Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vtransverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

- view of a yslight]y-modiied form of my in vention, and Fig. @illustrates the hoof plate or is illustrated, which consists in forming the s pad detached. 'Y

Referring now to the accompanying-drawings, in which like numerals indicate like"` parts in all the figures, l indicates the hoof- I bearing plate,which is formed of a light metal, such as aluminium. This plate has a peripheral shape in the form of a horses shoe and Fig. et is a similar seria No. 718,399. (No man.)

its body a counterpart of the sole or horses foot, whereby to bear snugly thereagainst when tted thereon, and the outer edge of the said plate has nailapertures l, adapted to register with theV nail-holes of the shoe 2. Theshoe 2, which maybe ofthe ordinary form, is fixedly held with the plate l only when the two are fitted to the horses foot, andithas no xed connection with such plate, whereby when the shoe is removed from the foot after worn to be replaced by a new one the worn shoe and plate can be readily separated and the said plate l used with a second or third shoe. p

I So far as described it will be .readilyseen that to apply my combined shoe-plate the ing-rim to firmly seat against the hoof-rim, and the shoe are held up snugly against the frog of the foot as the shoe is being nailed to the hoof, it being understood that the nails, passing through the apertures in the plate, serve toY hold the two parts rmlyin position on the hoof.

By providing a shoe of the character stated the foot is amply protected from irritation or injury by contact with gravel, stone, or other hard substances. Furthermore, a snug and neat shoe and covering for the hoof` is provided, Which has su flicient resiliency to avoid undue shock on the hoof. `Again, while the additional weight of the plate is comparato step and place his foot down more firmly than is the case when the hoof is not protected.

For horses having tender feet the plate l has a lsupplemental portion in the nature of a felt covering 3,held` secure on the rim or Hattened portion of the plate l, as shown, or in case 'of very soft feet the covering 3 may the foot and extend entirely over the top of the plate l, as shown in Fig. 1.1 In the latter figure another modification of my invention plate l with an inwardly and outwardly curved -flange-1, which is adapted to bear against th'einner edge er rim of the shoe,such construction having for its purpose to relieve the fastener-nails 4 from lateral strain exerted tivelylittle', yetit is sufcient te cause a racer plate l, theouter end of which has a tlat beari be made to snugly fit the contour or frog of IOS) by reason of a downward pressure on the plate 'l when the saine is made thin and 1esilient, it being obvious that When the latter form is used any lateral or radial strain of the plate 1 would he against the inner edge of the shoe.

My invention is exceedingly simple in its character, can be conveniently constructed7 and effectively serves its purpose, particularl)` as a means of protecting the hoot` of the racer and shoeing him in such a manner as to give him a greater confidence While running, the arrangement of the shoe or pad being such as to make a comfortable and secure covering for the foot.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

i. A horseshoe, comprising in combination with the shoe member proper, a plate formed of a light resilient metal having the contour of the frog or sole of the hoof, said plate having a seat at its peripheral edge for the outer or tread portion of the hoof and a bearing portion on the underside to receive the shoe.

2. A tread-plate for horseshoes, formed of a solid resilient metal body having a shape to snugly fit the frog or sole of the hoof, said body having` its peripheral edge in the shape ot' a horseshoe and having nail-apertures near its outer rim substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a horseshoe; of a tread-plate formed of 'a light resilient met-al having the contour of the hoof whereby to snugly fit against it, the outer rim of said plate being attened to form a solid bearing to engage the upper surface of the shoe, and a cushion bearing member having the contour of the plate and adapted to be fitted thereon, all being arranged substantially as `shown and described.

ALBERT H. BUSH.

lVitnesses: WILLIAM A. TORPEY, JOSEPH W. TORPEY. 

